Gravity is a bitch... just ask a rock climber.
But in the same way that good climbers learn to compensate or lessen the effects of Newton's fabulous law, so too can hikers and backpackers learn to adjust a backpack to help with hills.
It's really pretty simple.
https://youtu.be/PacjgdoGPac
By using your main shoulder straps and your load lifter top shoulder straps, you simply adjust … [Read more...]

In part one of my Larapinta Trail journey, I caught my first glimpse of Mt Sonder, took in breathtaking views from Counts Point and submerged myself in the icy waters of Ormiston Gorge. Each of us were finding our own pace within the group and slowly, the dust and stresses of our city lives began falling off us as the red dirt and sand of the MacDonnell Ranges National Park sunk deeper into our … [Read more...]

Living here in Australia, a country that is ironically surrounded by water, with a bloody great desert in the middle and frequently parched by drought, I now take it for granted that I need to carry a good amount of drinking water on hikes (bushwalks) and need to know how to treat drinking water that I gather along the way.
http://youtu.be/fvn9-jcHcvQ
I got a surprise when I received a … [Read more...]

The three peaks (the lazy way) continues... the final slog
As we crept into our tightly sealed sleeping bags (just in case snakey realised he left something behind), inches from the babbling brook of Kanangra Creek, we all tried to sleep with the knowledge that our bloody leader was going to wake us up at 5am to get going. Oh, hang on... that was me. As my alarm went off after what felt like only … [Read more...]

I talk a lot about wishlists. My mental list of adventures that one day, I hope to tick off. But it’s more than just ticking a box and being all task oriented about life. It’s about being able to bring these places into my own story and experience other people’s stories within it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCuW1zIUsY0
Ever since I did a 12 day hike in Kakadu National Park a few years … [Read more...]

I heard a whisper about a place called Galong Creek back in 2008 and since then, I’ve always wanted to go. Finally, I got there recently and it was worth the wait!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bct7nNpJ8wI
If you’re a regular visitor to the gorgeous Megalong Valley, you’ll be familiar with some of the landmarks along the way. That great feeling you get as the road winds down the escarpment … [Read more...]

The three peaks (the lazy way) continues...
The 3 day, "three peaks (the lazy way)", adventure continues in this video, which shows the lengths (and heights!) I go to, to try and visit all three of the Blue Mountains 3 peaks, in the easiest route possible.
http://youtu.be/yMW84_3MKt0
Day 2 had a fairly lazy start with Jim's excellent catch for breakfast and some downstream meanderings to … [Read more...]

I have this thing for outdoor retailers. I know I'm not alone. Like your annoying Facebook friend (we all have one) who’s mesmerised by the colours of Candy Crush and keeps sending you invites, I too am drawn to the bright colours of outdoors shops and when it comes to finding the right clothes for hiking, it's inevitable that we will all be drawn to these Meccas at one time or … [Read more...]

The Three Peaks in the Blue Mountains of NSW, Australia has been spoken of in hushed and reverent terms by bushwalkers for many decades. There are many stories (tall and true) about the epic feats of physical fitness and mental toughness that is needed to undertake the challenge under the classic trip guidelines. In a nutshell, a hiker must make their way over 90kms with close to 5,000 metres of … [Read more...]

How not to be another missing bushwalker!
Here in Australia, we've jumped head-first into Spring time which means that not only are the wildflowers coming out in abundance in our National Parks, but so too are hikers, that's bushwalkers to us Aussies! Therefore, it seems like a good time to cover off some of the basic preparation that everyone should do before heading out on an adventure, to … [Read more...]